A couple of things...I've been a long time Office user and the transition to the New Ribbon interface has taken quite a bit of time. I think what threw me off most was that there are defineitely some functions that have been depricated. If you use those...you're SOL. I also thought the ribon took up too much room. but then i did some comparing and it takes up the same space as three of the old toolbars. which is what i was giving up anyway. then i needed tp get used to the Context sentive approach the ribbon takes. If you are working with an image the only things in the ribbon are Image type operations. I dont know if i would say its easier...but it is different and after playing with it for a few months i think i can say i like it.

Well, like deadmonkey said, I wouldn't hold your breath......i am part of the beta and i have to admit that i'm not impressed by the new interface. They've changed the layout of the icons and/or toolbar....takes way too much space out of the screen. I've been using Office since the beginning and, eventough i am beta savvy, it is pretty tough to get used to it.

I have only seen screenshots and a few low res videos (from channel9) of the new Office interface and to be honest I don't know how I feel about it. Some things I like the idea of, others I think it looks awful. One thing I am pretty certain off is that I dislike the Vista theme with a passion. Why the hell did they take such a functional interface (bash XP all you like but it had an easy to work with interface which was great). All Office needed was a better help system (easier to navigate, clearer information) and the ability to edit your menus quickly and easy to 'rejig' things around. Microsoft seem to be designing things for kids these days and not the people who really use their software.

Actually, the interface is exactly why I'm interested in it... the screen real-estate being "lost" isn't a concern, since I run at 1280*1024 or higher on all my monitors.

I would never hold my breath, it is most unwise and doing so results in oxygen deprivation which can lead to brain damage. :)

Hey nate,

Any word on whether either of these releases will be "public" releases yet? Or are they still waiting for more official Beta 2/RC1 releases to do that?

I wouldn't hold your breath. Office isn't a free application like IE so I doubt we will see a public beta. I would be surprised if MSDN subscribers even got a copy as I have never see beta versions of Office officially available outside of the closed beta program.

Actually, MSDN Universal subscribers do get all the beta releases as well as final releases. I was previously a subscriber to it when I wasn't in poor college-student mode. They have also previously stated that there would be public betas, as well, around beta 2... hence the inquiry. Sadly for all the betas I've been a part of, Vista and Office 12 aren't among them.

I am a currently MSDN Universal subscriber and have not seen any of the Office 2007 betas available for download. Not saying you are not correct, just saying it isn't available to me and I don't remember seeing it (I have had a MSDN Universal subscription for several years too).

edit: Just had a look and there is nothing regarding Office 12 or Office 2007 anywhere to be found :(

Interesting... I know I always got the betas back in the day, so either they've changed their policy or they are waiting on Beta 2 as previously stated.

I agree it is rather strange. I might give my MSDN rep a call to find out that the deal is.

good stuff i been using office12 for awhile now.. sweet

I agree with zridling..I think we all need to ease off a bit with Microsoft you know. Just because they are the best does not mean we try to pull down everything it does. Instead lets be positive in life and not be too critical about things as at the end of the day we are not talking about humans but just softwares!

..."Time is running out..."?

At post time, there's two more weeks left in the month of February. Why must every single report or story about Microsoft by BetaNews use the tautological crutch of criticizing something/anything about the company, its software, or its business operations? You guys do everyone a disservice by "winging it" rather than sticking to the facts. Even in your Apple stories, you often slip in little slams against Microsoft. Why this blatant and persistent need to only write Microsoft reports with the obligatory negative slant? And when there's nothing negative to say, you quote each other for a non-sequitor negative comment?

Eloquent, and to the point. I couldn't express what you so easily stated myself, but this is EXACTLY what I have been basically stating.

This site DOES seem to be unequally slanted against MS.. Personally, I think its jealousy. They may not admit it.. but there is an unhealthy energy given to MS reports... and they ALWAYS seem to contain negative comments.

ITs about time somone has the guts to say this out loud.. I applaude this post.

Actually, there's 6 business days left in the month of February. Monday is a Federal holiday and there are only 28 days in February this year.

And furthermore, how is "Time is running out" negative? It just means that we will see the February CTP very soon.

And how is Joe Wilcox stating Microsoft announced Office 2007 pricing and packaging earlier than usual to give companies time to adjust to the more-complicated SKUs negative? It's simple analysis by an analyst.

Disconnect and relax a bit.

Time is running out is negative, because its putting a deadline on a beta product. You can't have it both ways. Either the beta comes out, WHEN its finished and complete, with a minimal of bugs, and the new features, or it comes out on time. Which is more important to you?

Personally, I think they should quit publishing time tables, just push the beta. It comes out when it comes out, don't rush them.

Everything in that article isn't negative, but overall his comment was aluding to MS bashing in whole, so don't take his words out of context.

So you take your bayer and eat your chex cereal and get back on the short bus, its time for school.

It's called the February CTP. And time is running out in February. That's negative?

The deadline was put there by Microsoft, not anyone else. Nobody is claiming Microsoft needs to rush a product to market, but when they say a February CTP is coming and there are 6 business days left in February, that means time is running out.

However, it looks like the CTP will arrive mid-next week, so Microsoft seems on track to make its self-imposed deadline.

Nate, how long have you been "reporting" now? I'm curious, because your articles always have a slant to them. The truth is, I think you have the potential to be a great journalist, but as things stand now-- you're better suited for editorial writing because of the constant slant. Don't take that as an attack, it's just how you write, and editorials are fine if that's what you're going for.

Now that aside from all that, the negative conotation of "time is running out" is that you place an expectation on them to comply. Just because they have previously indicated that it is their intention to provide us with a CTP this month, it doesn't imply that it will really happen. "Time is running out" is a great analogy for Microsoft's legal deadlines with the EU or DOJ, but it's not really fitting for a product "release" that they have no obligation to fulfill.

As a fellow writer (non-journalistic, however... I left that to my mother) and educator, I would like to offer a potentially more appropriate statement for your second paragraph:

"Microsoft has previously indicated that they would release the Vista February CTP in late February, and it is expected to be the first feature complete build of Windows Vista. etc etc."

"Personally, I think they should quit publishing time tables, just push the beta. It comes out when it comes out, don't rush them."

>>> Hmm, that could be an interesting marketing strategy for Microsoft. Imagine-- they release beta builds periodically, for free with a 6-month time expiration on them [expiring 6 months from release, not from install], no support (or limited support at best), and no guarantee of updates. If you want the latest updates and features, you either format and re-install the new free beta... or...

You purchase the full-featured "stable" release builds which would essentially be like their official product releases now... full support, security updates, etc.